Cutting and/or marking apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. HATFIELD \w mi May 3, 1949.

CUTTING AND/OR MARKING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1945 JEHLTL E dwar d PIERRE L11 y 1949- J. E. HATFIELD 2,469,299

CUTTING AND/OR MARKING APPARATUS Filed-April 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Juhn ldwE Lrt l HBTELElfl Patented May 3, 1949 UNIT-ED STAT ES FATENT ()FF ICE CUTTING AND/R MARKING APPARATUS John Edward Hatfield, Letehworth, Engi ee -i signer, by mesne assignments, to Irving, Air

Chute Co. Inc, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,788 In Great Britain January '7, 1944 Section 1, Public Law .690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January '7, 1964 (C1. Mid-42) 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to cuttings and/or marking apparatus and more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to apparatus for cutting and/or marking flexible material of strip or rod-like i'orm, e. g. tape, elastic, wire or cord.

For the purpose of cutting narrow flexible material into particular lengths and/ or applying markings to such material at particular points therealong the usual procedure is to apply one end of the strip material or-a marking thereon to one part of a measuring device and then to cut and/ or mark such material at a point of alignment with a marking on such measuring device denoting the requisite length to be severed and/or marked. This procedure is obviously very slow in operation and its accuracy is entirelydependent. upon the operator exercising appropriate care in carrying out the operation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide apparatus with the aid of which operations involving the cutting and/ or marking of strip or rod-like material for instance of a flexible and especially of an extensible nature, can be easily, quickly and accurately carried out.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for cutting strip or rod-like material into lengths of a particular value and/ or for applying markings to such material at par ticular points 'there'along, said apparatus comprising means for guiding said material, feeding means for causing said material to move with respect to said guiding means and means for cutting and/or marking said material, said feeding means and cutting and/or marking means being associated with common operating means.

In the use of apparatus according to the present invention the feeding of the material and the cutting and/or marking of such material, after it has been fed through a predetermined distance, is automatically effected by operation of the above mentioned common operating means.

Apparatus according to the present invention preferably includes provision whereby the distance through which the feeding means move between successive cutting and/or marking operations may be varied, so enabling lengths of variable value to be severed and/ or markings to be applied with any desired distances of separation therebetween.

The aforesaid feeding means are preferably of a reciprocatory nature and in such cases they preferably include gripping means which automatically. grip the material concerned when such feeding means move in a'feeding direction and automatically release;such material'during the:

return movement. Such griipping means may for instance consists of a spring operated trap carried by a reciprocabl head or they may consistof gripping fingers adapted to slide over the invention to a machine for cutting elastic or like material. Thus for instancewe'may provide a spring trap, fingersor the like mounted on a fixed part of the machine adjacent to the delivery end thereof and adapted to' allow the material concerned to pass thereby in a feeding direction but to prevent or oppose'its' passagein the reverse direction.

The aforesaid feeding means may'becarried by a reciprocatory head and thelatter maybe operated by means ofan singularly movable lever, handwheel or the like coupl'edthereto'by means of a connecting rod or the like Tand'in such cases the movement imparted to said head pursuant -to movement of said lever, handwheel or'thelike though its full range of movement may be varied by varying the distance of radial separation'between thepointof pivotal'connectiori of the said connecting rod or thellike and the axis about which said lever, hand wheeler. the like turns. In another arrangement the'worki'ngstroke may be varied by providing'adjustable stops'ifor limiting the angle through which. the said lever, hand wheel or the like icanbe turned;

The cutting and/ormarking means employed in apparatus according to. the present invention may be of any-suitable kind and they may for instance be mounted on .or otherwise operated by the shaft on which the 'abovesme'ntioned lever, handwheel or.the"like.for controlling'lthe feeding mechanism is mounted.:'

The guiding means empio'yed'in apparatus according to the present invention are preferably such as tosupport and/orguide'the whole length of the material beingfifeditherethrough in cases where such. material'consists of. elasti'cor other very flexible material; Suchmeans may-for 'in-' stance comprise two 'or more telescopically dis posed tube like members and 'the' cross' section of the hollow interiors of such members'preferably conforms with the cross-section of the material to be fed therethrough, e. g. in the case of strip material of rectangular cross-section the said tube-like members have rectangular bores and in the case of material of rod-like form the members have circular bores. In other arrangements the guiding means may consist of a single tubular member and slots may be provided for enabling gripping means to engage the material located inside said member and feed it therealong.

In cases however where the material to be cut and/r marked is of a more rigid nature, e. g. fabric or the like, it may not be necessary to have guides which surround such material, e. g. the bed of the machine may form the only guide or one or more guiding strips, rollers or the like may be associated with said bed.

If desired, apparatus according to the present invention may include a plurality of guiding, feeding and severing and/or marking means so as to permit of a plurality of lengths of material being treated simultaneously and any desired spools or the like may be provided for holding the material to be treated and any desired takeup spool or container or the like may be provided for receiving the marked and/or severed material as the case may be.

Apparatus according to the present invention may be operated by hand or it may be operated by any suitable motor, e. g. an electric motor.

In order that the present invention may be well understood I will now describe by way of examples some embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of machine suitable for severing lengths of elastic of circular cross-section,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a broken perspective view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a detail of the machine shown in Figures 1 to 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of machine suitable for instance for cutting and/or marking tape,

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the machine comprises a base I having brackets 2, 2, at one end thereof for receiving a shaft 3, and guides 4, 4 at the other end thereof for slidably receiving a cross-head 5, the said cross head being slidable longitudinally with respect to the base I.

The cross head 5 is provided with two brackets 6 and 7 extending upwardly therefrom and a .pin 8 extends laterally from the bracket 6.

A crank arm 9 is secured to the above mentioned shaft 3 and coupled to the pin 8 by means of a connecting rod It, the mounting of said crank arm being such as to enable adjustments to be made in its throw. Thus for instance as indicated in the drawings the said arm may have a slot ll adapted to slide over a reduced end of the said shaft, and a nut [2 making screwthreaded engagement with said reduced end may be provided for locking the arm in any desired position within its range of radial adjustment.

Any suitable motor, e. g'. an electric motor, or any suitable form of handle, such as the handle designated I3 in the drawings, is provided for rotating the crank arm 9 and it will be understood that rotation of such arm causes the crosshead It to reciprocate through a stroke the length of which is determined by the effective length of the crank arm 9.

A tube I 4 having a bore corresponding to the cross-section of the elastic or material to be cut extends through the above mentioned bracket I and constitutes the inlet aperture of the machine. A further tube I5 is similarly mounted in the bracket 6, the two tubes being coaxially disposed and having similar bores.

The end of the tube I5 remote from the entry end of the machine is slidably received within a tube I6, the latter tube extending through brackets H and I8 mounted on the bed I of the machine. During reciprocation of the head comprising the cross-head 5 and brackets 6 and l the tubes l5 and it accordingly move telescopically, the tube l5 supporting the elastic and assisting in conveying the latter through its feeding movement and the tube It functioning as a guide for such elastic.

A bracket [9 is mounted on the bed I in alignment with but spaced from the bracket l1 and a curved tube 28 having a bore corresponding with the bore of the tube It extends through said bracket and through one of the brackets 2, said tube being carried by said brackets and constituting the delivery outlet of the machine.

Gripping means comprising two plates 2|, 2| pivotally mounted on spindles extending upwardly from the cross-head 5, are provided between the above mentioned brackets 6 and l, the said plates being so disposed with respect to the adjacent end of the tube It that when abutting thereagainst they lie substantially in alignment with one another. The aforesaid plates, which may be provided with either straight or serrated edges, are so disposed that when they abut against the said tube It the said edges are spaced apart by a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the elastic. Said plates thus operate as one-way gripping devices, i. e. movement of the slidable head in a feeding direction causes the plates to swing towards the tube [4 into positions in which they tightly grip the elastic thus causing the latter to move with said head but reverse movement of the head results in said plates swinging away from one another and they accordingly slide along the elastic.

Light springs 22 or other suitable means are associated with the plates 2|, 2| so that the latter are always urged into contact with the elastic when the machine is loaded, such contact being necessary in order to achieve the automatic gripping action immediately the slidable head moves in a feeding direction.

Gripping means comprising plates 2| a, 2| a are mounted on the bracket [9, i. e. adjacent to the delivery end of the machine, and cooperate with the adjacent end of the tube It in the same manner in which the plates 2| cooperate with the tube M. The said gripping means at the delivery end of the machine are similar to those at the entry end and further description thereof is accordingly unnecessary.

A knife 23 is mounted on the end of the shaft 3 and cooperates with the delivery opening in the adjacent face of the bracket 2 informing means for severing any elastic which projects from said opening, said blade advantageously being of the curved form shown in Figure 1.

The above mentioned knife 23 is so mounted that it moves across the delivery aperture of the machine during the return stroke of the slidable head, i. e. when no elastic is being fed.

Assuming that it is desired to out certain lengths from elastic stock the throw of the crank arm 9 is adjusted to the appropriate value and the stock is threaded-through the feeding-and guiding tubes [4, l5, l6 and 20. The crank'handle is then turnedin the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and during movement of the slidable head to its innermost position, i. e. to the end ofits return stroke any elastic projecting from the tube 2o will be severed, i. e; the initial cutting movement of the crank handle merely constitutes a trimming operation upon the elastic, so the next cutting movement will sever an elastic of correct length. As soon as the slidable head moves forwards'however'the trap formed by the plates 2|, 2! will cause the elastic-to be gripped and this will bef ed forwards during the telescoping of the tubes I5 and It by a distance equal to twice the effective length of'thecrank, the tubes I4 and I5 functioning as a feeding and guiding means and the tubes I6 and '20 functioning as guiding means. The elastic'is therefore prevented from buckling or stretching during the feeding operation and the extent of the feed can accordingly be set very accurately;

During the feeding movement the plates 2la, Ala of the trap at the delivery end open under the influence of the elastic sliding thereby, so offering no material opposition to the feeding movement. During the returnmovement of the sliding head however when there may be a tendency for the elastic to be drawn rearwardly by the frictional engagement between such elastic and the tubes 3 and I4 and the gripper plates 2 I, 2! the plates Zia, 2 la will immediately move into positions preventing any such return movement of the elastic.

During the return movement of the sliding head the knife blade 23 severs the projecting length of elastic and at the end of the said movement and assuming that rotation of the crank handle is maintained anew feeding cycle is started. The severing of accurate length can therefore be continued until the desired number of lengths has been severed or until the stock has been exhausted. I

The machine shown in Figure 5 is intended for dealing with flat tape or like material in which there is less tendency for stretching or buckling than in the case of elastic and the guiding and feeding means employed are accordingly of a simplified construction. The machine also includes provision for marking a, tape at determined intervals.

The machine shown in Figure 5 includes a base 24 and a sliding head assembly consisting of a frame 25 and base tubes 26, 26. The said tubes 26, 26 are slidably mounted on rods 21, 21, the inner ends of said rods being secured in lugs 28, 28 extending from the base land the outer ends being secured in the side members of a frame 29 located adjacent to the delivery end of the machine.

Gripping fingers 39, the edges of which may, if desired, be serrated as shown, are caused to reciprocate with the sliding head, such fingers being pivotally mounted on a spindle 3| extending transversely across the base of the machine. It is sometimes desirable to provide for adjusting the position of the said spindle 3| with respect to the sliding head and this may for instance be done by mounting said spindle in fittings 32 which are slidable on the rods 2'! and coupling such fittings to the tubes 26 by means of rods 33, the rods 33 passing through holes in parts 34 projecting from said tubes and being secured in any desired position of adjustment by means of set screws, one of which is shown in the drawings and designated 35.1 In thisway it is possible to move'the fingers longitudinally to any. desired position with respect to the sliding head.

The above mentioned fingers 39 are of such a length that when resting on the upper surface of the base or bed 24 they are inclined in the direction of feed of the material to be cut and/or marked, movement of the sliding head in a feed ing direction accordingly urging the fingers 301 towards the bed of the machine so gripping the material passing between such fingers and the, bed. The aforesaid fingers may be provided with serrated edges as shown in the drawing with the result that the material engaged by said fingers is positively fed during the feeding movement of the sliding head. In the return movement of the said head howeverthe fingers 3B tend to swing away from the material and ride freely thereover; The very light contact exerted by thefingers during the said return movement will in general be extend transversely across the machine, the tape being threaded between such bars. In this way any desired degree of tension may be established in the tape and rearward movement of such tape is opposed. If desired lateral guides may also be provided for the tape as a further preventative against buckling, such guides being for'instance associated with the bars 36, 36.

A shaft 3? is located on the delivery end of the bed 24 of the machine, in a position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the machine, such shaft being mounted for instance in pedestals 38, 38. The said shaft 3? carries a helical cutter blade which cooperates with a fixed blade 40 somewhat in the manner of a mowing machine cutter, the blade 46 being mounted vertically at the end of the surface over which the tape is fed.

The above mentioned shaft BI is fitted with a crank arm 4!, the said shaft and arm being manually operated for instance by means of a handle d2 fitted to said arm or being power driven for instance by means of an electric motor; The said arm is further provided with a slot 43 in which a stud M making pivotal engagement with one end of a connecting rod is slidably mounted. The stud 44 can be locked in any desired position along the slot 43 so enabling the throw of the crank to be varied.

The end of the connecting rod d5 remote from the crank arm 33 is passed through a hole in a coupling member :35, said member being pivotally mounted on a pin t? projecting from the adjacent side member of the frame 25. A set screw 48 is provided for locking the connecting rod 45 to the member 46 and it will be appreciated that this mode of connection provides for variations being made in the particular part of the bed over which the sliding head moves pursuant to rotation of the crank arm 4].

If desired a bracket 49 having'a removable rod 50 may be provided at the inlet end of the ma chine for carrying a spool of tape, the tape being led from such spool, between the bars 36 and then along the upper surface of the bed of the machine to the blade 40.

The parts so far described enable lengths of tape to be cut to accurate dimensions. Thus assuming that the machine is loadedas above de' seesaw scribed the first time the blade 39 passes the blade 40 any projecting part of the tape will be severed and a properly trimmed end will be formed. This first cutting operation takes place whilst the head is moving rearwardly, i. e. through its return stroke, and the fingers will accordingly move freely over the tape without imparting any move ment thereto. During the subsequent forward movement of the head 25 the fingers 30wil1 grip the tape so feeding the latter forwardly throu'gh a distance determined by the throw of the crank 41 and as such throw is adjustable it will be appreciated that the length of tape fed during each feeding cycle can be set to any desired value within the range provided. At the end of the feeding stroke the head 25 begins its return stroke and the blades 39 and are then in position to sever the projecting portion of the tape, i. e. the pet'- tion of accurately determined length. Continued rotation of the crank M will cause further lengths of tape to be cut and the operation can be continued until the required number of lengths have been obtained or until the stock has been exhausted.

The machine shown in Figure 5 also includes means for marking a tape and these will now be described.

A plate 5| is mounted for vertical sliding movement on four rods 52 (only three of which appear in the drawings), such rods extending upwardly from the above mentioned tubes 26 and accordingly forming parts of the sliding head assembly of the machine. The plate 5| is supported at the required vertical height above the bed of the machine by light compression springs 53 and a printing die 54 is mounted on the underside of such plate, such die bearing any desired letters, numerals or other markings.

An inking device 55 is provided for cooperation with the die 54, such device preferably being mounted in such a way that its position can be adjusted along the bed of the machine. Thus for instance it may be mounted on rods 56 extending from the frame 29 to the lugs 28 and set screws 5'! may be provided for looking it in any desired position of adjustment.

The die 54 when supported by the springs 53 is at such a height that during its passage over the inking device 55 its face makes rubbing contact with an inking pad or roller 58 incorporated in the said device. 7

A strong compression spring 59 is located between the plate 5! and the upper member of the frame 25 such spring normally preventing the die from moving upwardly beyond the position determined by the springs 53, i. e. a position in which it is spaced from the bed of the machine and appropriately disposed for cooperation with the inking device.

A trigger 60 is pivotally mounted in a socket 6| extending upwardly from the plate 5|, the mounting being such that the trigger can swing towards and away from the delivery end of the machine. A leaf spring 62 is provided for urging the said trigger in a direction towards the delivery end of the machine and the upper end of the trigger is provided with a slotted or hooklike portion 53 adapted to make engagement with the upper member of the frame 25 when the plate 5| is raised upwardly against the, action of the spring 59, i. e. to a height above that at which it is supported by the springs 53 alone.

Rods 64 extending upwardly from the above mentioned plate 5| extend through the top member, of the frame 25 androllers65fare mounted,

at the upper ends of these rods for rotation about pinsextending horizontally and transversely with respect to the machine. These rollers function mounted on rods (one of which appears in Figure 5 and is designated 68) extendingalong the side of the bed of the machine. The said bracket can be locked in any desired position along'the said rods by means of set screws, one of which is shown in Figure 5 and designated 69. In use the br acket fi'lis located so that the rollers 65 pass" I a clockwise directionas viewed in Figure 5. I

A striking rod l2 serving a purpose hereinafter described, extends through the frame 29 and a set screw 73 is provided for locking said rod in any desired position, the horizontal level of said rod being slightly above that of the upper part of the frame 25 so that its end is in alignment with the plate-like part M of the trigger 50 assuming that such trigger is in engagement with the said frame.

Assuming that it is desired to print markings on the tape, a die 54 bearing the appropriate pat tern is fitted to the plate 5|, the fingers 30 are adjusted to lie in positions just in front'of the die, the inking device 55 is adjusted to lie in a position just behind the die and the bracket 61 is adjusted to a position in which the rollers 65 pass the cam plates 65 before they reach the end of the return movement of the Sliding head. The throw of the crank arm 4| is adjusted to give the desired length of feed between successive markings and if it is desired to mark one long length of tape without cutting the latter one or both of the blades 5'9 and 40 is or are removed or a guard placed thereover but if it is also desired to cut the tape the blades are allowed to operate in the manner already described. Finally the rod 12 is adjusted so that it strikes the trigger 60 when the sliding head is in the particular position of its stroke which corresponds to the desired positioning of the markings, this usually being at the moment when the head reaches the end of its feeding stroke.

Rotation of the crank arm 4| then causes the sliding head to reciprocate and any movement prior to the first complete feeding movement will merely set the various parts for automatic operation and a full cycle will now be described from that point.

As the head advances from its rearmost position the rollers '55 ride over the upper faces of cam plates so lifting the plate 5! and die 54 against the action of the spring 59 to a position in which the trigger '60 under the action of the spring 52 snaps into engagement with the horizontal bar of the frame 25, the plate and die assembly being thus held above the level of the inking: device 55. During the feeding movement of the sliding head the fingers 35 feed the tape through a feeding stroke of a length determined by the throw of the crank arm 4 l v and at the desired point in such feeding stroke, e. g. at the end of such stroke, the rod 12 strikes the trigger so freeing such trigger from its engagement'with the frame 25. The spring 59 thereupon urges the plate 5! and die 54 downw-ard1y with sufiicient .aeeaaee such impact the springs53 raise the plate i and die 54 into a position in which the underside of ate for making rubbing engagement with the inking device.

. On the return movement-of the sliding head the fingers 3!] ride smoothly over the tape in the manner already described-and the die 54 brushes over theinking device so being coated with ink in readiness for the next printing operation. After the inking operation has been completed and during the continued return movement of the sliding head the rollers 65 engage the under surfaces of the cam plates B B which plates turn freely on their pivot pins in during the passage of the rollers and as soon as such rollers have moved beyond the said cam plates the latter swing back into positions where the stop pins ll bring them to rest. At theend of the return movement of the sliding head a new cycle is initiated and marking operations can be continued until the desired length or number of lengths has been marked or the stock exhausted.

If it is desired merely to sever lengths of tape with the machine shown in Figure 5 without marking such tape the trigger 60 is hooked onto the frame-25 so raising the plat-e 5| to its uppermost position, the frame 8'! is moved beyond the rearward limit position of the sliding head and the rod lZis withdrawn to a position in which it does not make contact with the trigger during reciprocation of the slidinghead.

The machine shown in Figure 5 can be adjusted to accommodate dies of various lengths and the gripping fingers 3?] may be spaced at variable distances apart or the number in use may be varied in order to adapt such machine forefficiently feeding tapes of various widths.

In a modification of the machine described with reference to Figure 5 the blades 39 and 40 may be omitted so providing a machine for carrying out marking operations only.

Whilst I have hereinbefore described some speific embodiments of the present invention I wish .it to be understood that the details may be varied or modified without departing from the scope thereof. Thus for instance various kinds of feeding means may be employed and instead of mounting a sliding head on bars carried on the base of the machine such head may be provided withslippers adapted to slide in grooves or slots in the said base. is provision for varying the length of material fed by the apparatus such variation may extend over any desired range. It is also to be understood that the apparatus may be used for cuttin and/ or marking various kinds of tape or rod-like material, e. g. metal strip or wire although it is particularly suitable for dealing with flexible or extensible material such as tape, cord, or elastic.

Iclaim:

1. In apparatus for cutting into a plurality of sections of desired length such materials as tape, elastic, cord, wire and the like, the combination of a frame, a slidable carriage upon the frame, material gripping means on the carriage, a crank having an axle r-otatably supported upon the frame on a predetermined IOtary axis, a connecting rod mechanism attached to said carriage and connected to said crank remote from its axis, and

a material severing knife operatively connected with the axle of the crank.

Moreover in cases where there the die is disposed on a horizontal level appropri- 2. In apparatus for cutting into a plurality of sections of desired length, such materials as tape, elastic, cord, wire and the like, the combination of a frame, a slida-ble carriage upon the-frame, material gripping means on the carriage a crank having an axle rotatably supported upon the frame on a predetermined rotary axis, a connecting rod mechanism attached to said carriage and connected to said crank remote from its axis, a material severing knife operatively connected with the axle of the crank, and material guiding means-mounted upon said carriage and upon said frame for delivering the material in accurate lengths directly to said knife.

3. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a frame, a slidable carriage upon the frame, material gripping means upon the frame comprising a pair of spring actuated members normally moVable into engagement with the material to be fed to prevent movement of the material with respect to said carriage in reverse direction to normal feed, means for moving said carriage along said frame, cutting means including a knife and a shaft upon which the knife is connected for operation, a crank upon said shaft, and a connecting rod between-said crank and said carriage for cooperative movement of the carriage and the operation of the knife.

l. In apparatus for feeding and cutting continuous length material such as tape,'cord and the like, the combination of an elongated frame, a slidable carriage upon the frame, amaterial guiding tube upon thecarriage, a second-material guiding tube upon the carriage in cooperative alignment with the first mentioned guiding means, and material grippingmeansupon the carriage between the said two guiding meansfor preventing the return feed of the material being fed, in one direction.

5. In apparatus for feeding andcutting continuous length material such as tape, cord and the like, the combination of an elongated frame, a slidabl carriage upon the frame, a material guidingtube upon thecarriage, a second material guiding tube upon the carriage in cooperative alignment with the first .mentioned guiding meanamaterial gripping means upon the carriage between the said twov guiding means :for preventing the return feed of the material being fed, in one direction, a stationary guiding means upon the frame at the delivery end thereof, a second stationary guiding means upon said frame in cooperative alignmentwith the first mentioned stationary guiding means, the second mentioned guiding means upon the carriage' being telescopically received in the second mentioned stationary guiding means, and gripping means upon said frame between the first and second stationary guiding means upon the frame for preventing return movement of the material counter to the normal feeding movement.

6.-In apparatus forfeeding and cutting continuous length material such as tape, cord and the like, the combination of an elongated frame, a slidable carriage upon the frame, amaterial guiding tube upon the carriage, a second material guiding tube upon the carriage in cooperative alignment with the first mentioned guiding means, material gripping means upon the carriage between the said two guiding means for stationary guiding meansjthe 's'econd mentioned guiding means upon the carriagebeing telescopically received in thesecondmentioned stationary guiding means, gripping means upon said frame between thefirst' and second Stationary guiding means upon the frame for' preventing return movement of the material :counter to the feeding movement, a rotary "cutter: at the delivery end of said first mentionedstationary guiding means, and acommon operatinglmeans for said rotary cutter and said carriage.

7. In apparatus for feeding; and cutting flexible material of continuous length such as cord and the like, the combination of abase, feeding means movably mounted upon the base, tubular guiding means upon the feeding means and movable therewith for non-buckling guiding of the material as it is fed, and other tubuIar guiding means upon said base stationary therewith telescoped complementary with the guiding means of said feeding means for deliveredfeeding of said material against buckling." I

8. In apparatus'f'or feeding andcuttin'g flexible material of continuouslength such as cord and the like, the combination of a base, feeding means movably mounted'upon the base, tubular guidingmeans uponthe feeding means and mov-- able therewith for non buckling guiding of the material as itls fed, other-tubular guiding means upon said base stationary therewith telescoped complementary Withtheguidin'g means of said feeding means for delivered feeding of said material against buckling, and cutting means at the delivery 'end of that guiding means which is mounted upon said base, I

9. In apparatus for feeding and'cutting flexible material of continuous length suehas cord and the like, the combination of ab ase,.feeding means movably mounted upon the base, tubular guiding means upon the feeding means ,and movable therewith for non -buckling guiding of the material as it isfed. othertubular guiding means upon said base stationarytherewith telescoped complementary with the guiding means of said feeding means for delivered. feeding of said material against buckling cuttingmeans at the delivery end O that in meanswhichismounted upon said base. ripping means upon said base associated with saidstationary guiding. means thereon o prevent counter-movement of the material, and gripping means upon said feeding means to prevent counter-movement of, said material.

10. In a paratus for feeding and cutting flexibl material of continuous length such as cord and the like. the combinationof a base, feeding means movably mounted uponthe base, tubular guiding means upon the fe'eding means and movable therewith for'non 'bucklirigLguiding off the material as it is fed. other tubular guiding means upon said base stationarytherewith telescoped complementary withthe guianig means of said feeding means'for' delivered' feeding dream material against buckling, cutting means "atthe delivery end' of T that guiding means which is mounted uponsaid"'base,"'gripping means upon said base associated .with said stationary guiding means thereon to prevent counter-"movement of. the material, gripping means upon said feeding means to prevent counter-movement of said material, and means connecting said cutting means and said feeding means for synchronized operation.

11. In apparatus for feeding and marking con-- tinuous length materials, the combination of a base, a carriage movable along the base, means "12 for moving said carriage back and forthalong the base, spring actuated marking means mounted upon th carriage and transversely movable, thereon for marking material moved thereby, gripping means associated with said carriage for gripping materials and feeding the same with the movement of the carriage, means for automatically tripping the marking means, and means for automatically reset ing the marking means.

12. In apparatus for the marking of continuous length materials in predetermined lengths and places, the combination of an elongated frame, a feeding carriage movable along the frame, a marking member, means movably mounting the marking member for movement transversely to movement of the feeding means, spring means normally supporting the marker out of marking position, other spring means normally urging the marker in marking direction, detent means for holding the ,marker with the last mentioned spring means compressed, and means for tripping saiddetent means at a desire-d position of movement of the carriage.

13. In apparatus for the marking of continuous length materials in predetermined lengths and places, the combination of an elongated frame, a feeding carriage movable along the frame, a marking member, means movably mounting the marking member for movement transversely tomovement of the feeding means, spring means normally supporting the marker out of marking position, other spring means normally urging the marker in marking direction, detent means for holding the marker with the last mentioned spring means compressed, means for tripping said detent means at a desired position of movement of the carriage, and means associated with said frame and said carriage for resetting the position of the detent means at the desired position of the carriage in its movement along the frame.

14. In apparatus for the marking of continuous length materials in predetermined lengths and places, the combination of an elongated frame, a feeding carriage movable along the frame, a marking member, means movably mounting the marking member for movement transversely to movement of the feeding means, spring means normally supporting the marker out of marking position, other spring means normally urging the marker in marking direction, detent means for holding the marker with the last mentioned spring means compressed'means for tripping said detent means at a desired position of move ment of the carriage, means associated with said frame and said carriage for'resetting the position of the detent means at the desired position of the carriage in its movement along the frame, cutting means for severing the material, and means synchronously connecting the cutting means with said carriage for operation of both of them. V V

"15. In apparatus for' advancing and cutting continuous length materials such as tape, elastic, cord, wire and the like," the combination of an elongated supporting'frame, afeeding carriage longitudinally slidable upon the frame, material gripping means upon'the carriage, a drive shaft mounted on the frame atthe delivery end of the frame, a blade directly carried by said drive shaft for severing materials asthey are fed by the carriage to the delivery end of the frame, a crank arm connected to saidshaft, and a connecting rod pivotally connectedto saidcrank arm remote from the shaft axis and-having a connection with the carriage to advance the carriage as the shaft is rotated.

16. In apparatus for advancing and cutting continuous length materials such as tape, elastic, cord, wire and the like, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, a feeding carriage longitudinally slidable upon the frame, material gripping means upon the carriage, a drive shaft mounted on the frame at the delivery end of the frame, a blade directly carried by said' drive shaft for severing materials as they are fed by carriage to the delivery end of the frame, a crank arm connected to said shaft, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said crank arm remote from the shaft axis and having a connection with the carriage to advance the carriage as the shaft is rotated, and means for adjusting the throw length of the crank arm between the pivotal connection of the connecting rod therewith and the axis of said drive shaftv 17. In a feeding and cutting device for handling lengths of fiexible material the combination of an elongated base, a slidable carriage mounted upon said base, tubular guide means carried by and movable with said carriage through which the material is fed, gripping means on the carriage for holding said material stationary in said tubular means as the carriage is fed forwardly along the base, stationary tubular means mounted on the base for movably receiving the material as it is fed by the carriage and the tubular means of said carriage, and cutting means for severing lengths of material as it is fed from the base tubular means.

18. In a feeding and cutting device for handling lengths of flexible material the combination of an elongated base, a slidable carriage mounted upon said base, tubular guide means carried by and movable With said carriage through which the material is fed, gripping means on the carriage for holding said material stationary in said tubular means as the carriage is fed forwardly along the base, stationary tubular means mounted on the base for movably receiving the material as it is fed by the carriage and the tubular means of said carriage, cutting means for severing lengths of material as it is fed from the base tubular means, the tubular means of the carriage and the tubular means of the base being telescopically related to insure an accurate non-buckling feed of the flexible material from the carriage tubular means through the base tubular means to the cutting means.

19. In strip feeding, marking and cutting means the combination of an elongated base, a feeding carriage having strip engaging means thereon for feeding a strip along the base as the carriage is moved, cutting means upon the base, means operatively connecting the carriage and the cutting means for synchronous operation, marking means carried by the carriage, means to automatically trip the marking means and impress printed matter upon the strip at a predetermined position of the carriage upon the base, and means upon the base for resetting the marking means at a predetermined position of movement of the carriage along the base.

JOHN EDWARD HATFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 141,314 Braidwood July 29, 1873 581,259 Belknap Apr, 27, 1897 779,331 Tifft Jan. 3, 1905 1,318,108 Ra Oct. 7, 1919 1,430,089 Lazaga Sept. 26, 1922 1,765,414 Fulk June 2 1, 1930 1,984,657 Rosenthal Dec. 18, 19.34 

